Cancer Survivor Who Sang With Garth Brooks Shares New Diagnosis

A young cancer survivor who achieved internet fame after singing onstage with Garth Brooks is once again fighting the disease.

In November 2016, Brooks offered a once-in-lifetime opportunity to recent high school graduate and cancer survivor Danielle El-Jor: a chance to sing with him onstage.

The duet took place at Richmond Coliseum in El-Jor’s home state of Virginia. Brooks performed in front of thousands before introducing the young woman, sharing that a year and a half earlier, she had plans to audition for The Voice, but that same day, she had to begin chemotherapy. After meeting El-Jor the previous evening, Brooks’ wife Trisha Yearwood declared that since she missed her audition, El-Jor should get to sing onstage with Brooks — and she did.

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The night of the concert, Brooks announced to the audience that El-Jor was cancer-free, and the two went into a stellar duet version of “I Told You So,” originally recorded by Randy Travis and more recently covered by Carrie Underwood. However, a few months after the magical performance, El-Jor has announced her cancer has returned as stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Remaining optimistic, the singer shared this news via Facebook, according to WTVR: “I'm trying to stay as positive as I can, and my faith has kept me going this long. Here's to another journey, another short haircut, and of course, another chance to kick some butt!”

Prior to the return of her cancer, El-Jor was living the remission dream having sung with Brooks, writing her own music and releasing her first four-song EP. To properly care for the disease, El-Jor’s treatments, beginning in March, will be more aggressive than her prior treatments. As she continues her ongoing fight against cancer, a GoFundMe page has been set up in El-Jor’s honor.